SEP 8, 2008 – 12:00AM

Hi. My name is Andrew – Drew – and I … I … drove myself to work the other day.

Hi, Andrew – Drew.

Uh, is this the point I talk about it?

If you’d like.

Not really, but I guess that’s why I’m here. There’s really not much to say. It was raining – not hard, but steady – and I didn’t want to sit in a puddle all night. So I drove.

And how did that make you feel?

Dry.

Funny. We can’t help you if you don’t open up a bit more.

OK. Sorry. How’d it make me feel? Honestly, kinda wimpy. Like I said, it wasn’t raining that hard. I’ve ridden in worse conditions. Earlier last week, I was on a ride in the country, 16 miles from home, when the sky opened up. I squished the rest of the way home.

Oh, impressive.

OK, I get it. So I am a wimp. I know, I know. I could always attach fenders to my bike to keep dry, wear rain pants and a rain jacket, but I don’t like having to make concessions just to ride my bike to work.

You mean, like driving?

No. Yes. I don’t know.

Do you wear gloves and a jacket when it’s cold?

Of course. And I ride in the cold. I don’t like to put a limit on it. Once you stop riding because it’s, say, 20 degrees, you have a hard time riding when it’s 25, or 32 and windy, or … you get the idea.

And yet, when it was 70 and wet, you drove?

Yes, and I regret it. The worst is deciding to drive because of the threat of rain, working, then walking out to a starry sky and dry pavement.

Besides feeling guilty, has it affected you in other ways?

Well, I have to admit I’m a little short with my wife and kids. Cranky. It doesn’t affect my work, I don’t think. Of course, I could be in denial …

OK, so focus on how you feel. Next time it rains, remember how you feel now. Think about all the benefits of riding, all the drawbacks to riding. And remember, you’ll dry eventually. You won’t melt.

I’ll try.

Oh, and one more thing.

What’s that?

It’s not like you were drinking to excess or gambling away your life savings, for heavens sake. You drove to work. Billions of people do it. Get over it. And yourself.